On how the Nuggets will play, given all of the injuries: “Same expectation. No matter whose number is called, go out there and play with effort, have game plan discipline and do your job. Obviously, (Jusuf) Nurkic is still out, Wilson (Chandler) is out, Joffrey (Lauvergne), Nikola (Jokic). But that’s life in the NBA. Nobody feels bad for you. So, we have more than enough healthy bodies that can go out there and get the job done, and that’s my expectation.”

On Lakers taking the most 3-pointers in the league: “Them taking threes isn’t a concern, them making threes is a concern. The quality of threes that they are able to generate, so we have to be aware of that. We have to make sure we’re guarding the 3-point line. Just as important is we have to make sure we rebound; long shots equal long rebounds. Read more…

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers take on the Nuggets at Pepsi Center on Tuesday. (Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)

Brian Shaw shook his head at the mere thought.

Last week, as Lakers star and surefire Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant sat some games out to rest, an unusual narrative started to gain steam: Were these Lakers better without him? Lakers players were asked. Lakers coach Byron Scott was asked. It was debated on national television. Read more…

Christmas Day is the NBA. The NFL has Thanksgiving, the NBA has Christmas.

And this year’s five-game slate hardly disappointed. First The John Wall-led Wizards opened by thrashing the Knicks and further reminding New York fans that their team is not good — not even a little.

Then Russell Westbrook put on a show in the Thunder’s win over the Spurs in San Antonio.

Then a vintage Dwyane Wade dropped 31 to spoil LeBron James’ Miami homecoming — which included video tributes for James and then almost everyone else on the floor.

Then came the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers vs. Bulls, which was of interest in large part because Derrick Rose is playing scary good again, but also because Nick Young continues to provide ridiculous comments.

And then, to finish it all off, the Clippers hosted the Warriors, a West Coast battle featuring two of (or maybe just the) league’s best point guards, Chris Paul and Stephen Curry.

If you missed any of the games: A) What were you thinking?, B) Relax, we’re here for you. Here were some of the high points (and low points) from each game.Read more…

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.